Metro Council's Democratic Caucus members encourage public to attend meeting concerning tolls for the Ohio River Bridges project

Members of the Democratic Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council are encouraging anyone who is concerned about tolls on the new Ohio River Bridges to voice their concerns or opinions at two open house meetings early next week.

“The project’s coordinators want to hear from any low income or minority groups that will feel the impact of tolls,” said Councilman David James (D-6), chairman of the Caucus. “It is important that all voices and all areas of Louisville and Southern Indiana be heard.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transpiration currently have a draft assessment of the impact of tolls for the project. The Open House meetings are being held to gauge more public input.

On Sunday, several members of the Democratic Caucus held a news conference encouraging public participation. “Right now all attention is focused on the beginning of construction but it is important to remember when these bridges are completed, tolls will become a reality,” said Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12).

“Many people are still struggling in this economy and for some these proposed tolls are going to be a burden. That’s why now is the time to voice how you will be impacted if tolls are placed on these new bridges,” says Councilwoman Attica Scott (D-1).

Here is the information for both meetings from the Ohio River Bridges Project::
· Monday, July 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT at the Holiday Inn Clarksville, 505 Marriott Dr., Clarksville, Ind.
· Tuesday, July 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, Ky.

 For those using public transportation, the route information for Transit Authority of River City (TARC) is:
· July 22 meeting – Take TARC to the Spring Street stops at 14th or 15th streets in Jeffersonville, Ind. Shuttle to Holiday Inn Clarksville will be provided at that point.
· July 23 meeting – Take TARC to the Muhammad Ali & 17th Street stop.

Register now for Neighborhood Institute Spring 2013

The Center For Neighborhoods has launched the Neighborhood Institute for Spring 2013.

It will be held at New Directions Housing Corp. (1000 East Liberty Street) January 29th - April 16th. The Institute is held every Tuesday for 12 consecutive weeks from 6:00-8:30pm and dinner is provided each week. 

The Neighborhood Institute Spring 2013 is open to all neighborhoods, Metro Council Districts and the whole community. 

To register for the 12-week program, contact Lisa at 502.589.0343 or lisad@centerforneighborhoods.org. 

=====================================

About The Neighborhood Institute:

Begun in 1987, the Neighborhood Institute is a comprehensive leadership program designed to provide neighborhood leaders with the skills and understandings necessary to lead effective neighborhood organizations.  The Institute is conducted as a twelve-week seminar twice each year.   

The Center For Neighborhoods (formerly the Louisville Community Design Center) envisions a community driven by an array of lively civic institutions working in partnership with local government and one another to create sound neighborhoods and community. The purpose is to empower citizens and citizen-based institutions to have an effective role in making their neighborhoods good, decent, and attractive places to live. Continuing 33 years of work, the Center For Neighborhoods pursues its mission and fundamental purpose through leadership education, through community planning, and by assisting neighborhood-based development and improvement.

Not to be missed: The Southwest Center's upcoming events

The Southwest Center is holding two fabulous events this month. Please make some time for them. The Southwest Center and the people who run it stand for everything that is good and positive in our community.

• The Southwest Center’s 8th Annual Open Rod Run: Saturday, August 11, 2012 from 10am-4pm at the Center, 8009 Terry Rd Louisville, KY 40258. Registration is only $15. Food, Cars, Raffles, Cars, Silent Auction and more Cars All proceeds benefit the people who attend the Southwest Center.  
• Back To School Golf Scramble: August 25, 2012 at Quail Chase Golf Course, start at 1:00pm All proceeds to benefit Southwest Center and Pitt Academy. Pitt Academy is an accredited, independent, non-profit school that serves students in K-12 with learning differences or learning disabilities. The Center needs golfers and sponsors! Cost is $300 per Team .Sponsorships start at $50. For more information, Please call the Southwest Center at 502-935-1848

The Southwest Center is a 501 C(3), non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a supportive environment combined with enriching work opportunities that foster growth and independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All services provided are designed to help each person to live and enjoy life in his or her community.

For information, please contact the SWC at 935-1848.

Forget the flea market, there's a REAL junk yard coming to Valley

A typical salvage auto auction yard

This Thursday, there will be a public meeting to discuss the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit to Copart USA to allow an auto storage and title processing facility on approximately 57 acres at 3100 Pond Station Road.

WHEN: Thursday, May 10, 2012 7 p.m. WHERE: Virgina Avenue United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall 10015 Stonestreet Road

Copart auctions used and salvage vehicles to auto parts dismantlers, rebuilders, used car dealers, wrecking yards, and the public for insurance and rental car companies.

I have spoken with several residents who are concerned this will be an auto junk yard in direct view from their homes. They cite increased traffic, noise, light pollution as reasons they are against issuing the permit. Also, they don't want anything that resembles a junk yard anywhere near their homes.

I don't blame them.

Copart operates a facility in Lexington, doing business as "Copart Salvage Auto Auctions".

Had enough? Old Melton's now a junk yard/flea market

The Valley Report facebook page has been buzzing with activity over the opening of yet another flea market/yard sale store in the space formerly occupied by Melton's Food Mart on Valley Station Road near the railroad tracks.

Commenters say they are "fed up" with this type of development.

Join our discussion and tell us how you feel about this latest store, and while you are there, check out the photos of this atrocity.

How long do you think it will last? How long can you live with this type of commerce?

A plea for affordable housing. Take a look.

And now, a message from my cousin, Drew Tucker, about the Metropolitan Housing Coalition. Please do what you can to help make affordable housing a priority in Louisville. -Brian

Hello friends!

Over the last three years I’ve been working with Metropolitan Housing Coalition of various projects around affordable housing in Louisville. Cathy, and Curtis are good friends of mine, and I find the work they do around advocacy, education, and research of affordable housing here in Louisville to be an invaluable resource for our city. Right now our city has around 7,000 vacant properties many located in the West and South end (where I grew up), a 25,000 person section 8 waiting list, and many homeless families, including 9,000 homeless children, in desperate need of affordable housing. MHC is working with the metro council, Mayor Fischer, and other non-profits to make sure that these properties don’t stay abandoned, and that they are repurposed so that they can provide new affordable housing options for residents of the Louisville metro area.

MHC has brought in Dan Kildee, a nationally renowned expert on foreclosed properties and tax liens from Detroit, to speak to the Mayor and others, about what Louisville can do on the city and state level to change the legal landscape such that these properties are available first to our land bank and not outside private investors who do not have much concern for the state of housing in Louisville.

MHC was also integral to mentoring me while I organized residents at Sheppard’s Square public housing complex as we prepared them for the changes they would experience after the demolition of their homes, and the subsequent scattering through the section 8 program. Without Cathy and Curtis’s help I would have been at a loss at how to create a direct link between the Housing Authority and the residents of Sheppard Square, who felt a significant amount of fear and anger due to the uncertainty of their impending move, and because of a breakdown in communication between the two parties in previous projects. With their help I was able to make sure residents received information directly, face to face, rather than through mailings, phone calls, etc. And although in the end they were still scattered throughout Louisville, they were directly involved in the decisions leading up to the move, and were able to speak directly to the Housing Authority when they so desired.

I cannot tell you how important membership is to Metropolitan Housing Coalition. Nowadays, grants only cover the cost of projects implemented by non-profits. Pay for the talented, and already vastly underpaid folks that make up these organizations is in short supply. And while I understand that we are in an economic downturn, it’s essential that we don’t let the groups that advocate, and educate us fall by the wayside.

Today, I am asking you to not only make a donation, but to show your ownership over the issues we face in Louisville around affordable housing. For $3 a month, $36 a year, you can support MHC in the second most vital way possible; the first is by giving your time to participate on one of their committee’s or volunteering your time. Three dollars a month may not seem like much, but imagine if 200 new members made this pledge? Sustainable giving, like this, is how we make sure organizations we value remain viable in times of economic crisis. Furthermore, it shows our commitment to the work they have done, and will do, into the future.

Please take a small amount of time today to visit the below website and let MHC know how much you value the work they do around creating education, advocacy, and research about affordable housing in Louisville.

Thanks,

Drew Tucker
Metropolitan Housing member, and sustainable giver


https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/MetropolitanHousingCoalition/OnlineDonation.html

Like gypsies in the night: LMPD 3rd Division crime trends for January, 2012

Courtesy of your SW Metro Council representatives, here are the most recent Crime Trends for the LMPD 3rd Division. Specific trends to be aware of are as follows:

There were three separate burglaries reported in the 4800-4900 blocks of Dixie Hwy. Each time, a concrete block was thrown through the front window of the business and all three happened after dark. One report had a suspect listed as a white male.

There was a home burglary reported in Hunters Point. The victim was inside when a white or Hispanic male wearing a red hat and blue jacket, forced his way in the back of the home. Please call police with any information you may have regarding this case.

A green utility trailer was reported stolen from a driveway off Upper Hunters. The trailer is reported to be metal with wooden sideboards and floorboards and has B &G Framing written on the side in black marker. If you spot this trailer, please call police.

3 car break-ins were reported on the lot of Wal-Mart at 7100 Raggard Rd. Police arrested the suspect, who admitted to breaking in to all 3 cars. All property was then returned to the victims.

A theft of a vehicle was reported on Freeman Ave. The vehicle was taken while the victim still had the keys. SUV is a red Mercury Mountaineer KY 040MBN.

A separate vehicle was reported stolen from Iroquois Gardens Dr. That vehicle is described as a 1997 black Honda Civic KY 111HES.

A home burglary was reported on Palatka Rd. where 2 guns were stolen, along with other valuables. The weapons are described as a .22 Springfield rifle and a Remington 12 gauge shotgun.

A burglary of a garage was reported on Elmer Ln. An unknown suspect kicked in the door and took tools along with a red Honda motorcycle.

Vehicle parts were taken from a car lot on National Turnpike during closed business hours. Parts were later recovered after being found by the business owner. Please keep an eye out if you are out along this road, especially during the overnight hours.

A burglary was reported on Gleam where the back door was kicked in and 2 guns, along with a computer were stolen. The weapons were a 12 gauge shotgun and a Remington 860.

2 thefts from autos were reported on East Dr. One vehicle had the window broken out and the other was left unlocked with a purse and its contents taken from inside. Remember to always lock your cars while away from them.

An air conditioning unit theft from a church was reported on Deering Rd.
 
A business burglary was reported on Valley Station Rd. Entry was made to the building and a safe with cash inside was taken.

Another air conditioning unit theft was reported from a church on Valley Station Rd.

Sun Valley on Ashby Ln. was burglarized last week when an unknown suspect/s gained entry to the parking lot and building and took a trailer and valuables. Any information you may have regarding this, please call the police.

There were 5 home burglaries reported South of Greenwood Rd and North of Hwy 841 during the last week, all were entered with force. Keep an eye out, especially if you are home during the day, for any suspicious activity or people that may be around your neighbors or your own home. Never hesitate to call the police with any concerns.

2 home burglaries were reported on Kinross Dr. The back door was pried on one and valuables were taken from inside both homes.

A John Deere green and yellow Gator was reported stolen from a construction site on Lower River Rd. Any information you may have in regards to this theft, please pas along to police.

Again, 2 separate vehicles were reported to have been “broken in” to by the victims leaving them UNLOCKED. If you have anything inside valuable enough to report to the police, LOCK YOUR CAR.

We appreciate any help from the community to solve crime. Please talk to all of your friends, family members, social and professional organizations and make them aware of this new service the Louisville Metro Police Department is offering. The more the information gets out to the community the better our chances of keeping Louisville safe.

Public meeting scheduled for drive-thru Subway at Dixie and Ashby

From the office of CM Bob Henderson(D-14):

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CASE #16747

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A REVIEW OF A PROPOSAL FOR LANDSCAPE WAIVERS FOR VEHICLE USE AREAS AT 10500 DIXIE HIGHWAY AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF ASHBY LANE. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD BEGINNING AT 1PM ON December 28TH AT 514 WEST LIBERTY STREET UNTIL ALL CASES ARE HEARD. THE APPLICANT IS PLANNING A SUBWAY FOR THAT PROPERTY.

If you are planning to go to this meeting, please CLICK HERE to read about how these meetings are conducted so you will be familiar with all of the weird rules. Also, you may have to devote a significant part of your day in order to participate. It is one of the reasons these meetings are so poorly attended, and is why bad projects seem to breeze right through the system in Louisville.

Buy local on Black Friday

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and with it, the holiday shopping frenzy. I hope you will join me in supporting our independent, locally-owned businesses on "Black Friday" by shopping small.

Southwest Louisville has many treasures, as does the city proper. You should have no trouble finding that unique gift for someone on your list, and you will be helping your community by making sure the money stays in town.

Koch and Company, WHY Louisville and Handicraft Ceramics (at the Southwest Center) are but a few examples of places you can go and shop guilt-free this year.

Buy local. You might save a job or help someone through your purchase.

Represent SW Louisville on a board or commission

For years, I have urged residents of Southwest Louisville to be involved in their community by serving on city boards and commissions. I'd like to ask you all again today to take a look at donating some of your time so that we can be fairly represented on metro boards and commissions.

There is an online form you can fill out to be considered. The link appears below. You can pick a category so you don't get stuck on a board you don't like or a commission on which you have no interest.

Please consider doing this today.

Thanks for reading.

Link to serve on metro board or commission.

Welch and Yates form partnership for Brightside Cleanup

From Fairdale to Auburndale, the volunteers are ready with bags, gloves and determination for this Saturday’s Brightside Cleanup.

Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) & Councilman David Yates (D-25) are encouraging everyone in South Louisville to get involved with groups and volunteers who will be out picking up trash and litter to keep the districts clean.

“Every year, our neighborhood associations and community groups take the lead when it comes to the Brightside Cleanup,” says Welch. “We have dedicated groups of volunteers who show community pride with their unselfish willingness to get involved.”

One of the main goals of the fall cleanup is the New Cut Road Corridor. Councilwoman Welch will lead volunteers along New Cut Road from the Outer Loop to the railroad crossing. Councilman Yates’ groups will cover from Southside Dr. to Palatka Rd.

Among the District 13 groups signed up to volunteer are the Fairdale Community School, Kenwood Heights Christian Church, Lassiter Middle School, the Candlelight Neighborhood Association, Tree Line Estates, the Holsclaw Hill Blockwatch program and the District 13 New Cut Road group. District 25 has the Redbud Neighborhood Association and a large group from the Auburndale Neighborhood Association. District 25 is also involved with the Southwest Pride group on Dixie Highway.

Councilwoman Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) and Councilman David Yates (D-25) will partner in providing a pizza lunch from Little Caesar’s at the K-Mart Outer Loop for all of the volunteers who help clean the Auburndale/Fairdale area. We want to thank Little Caesar’s for a discount on the pizzas for these volunteers. The lunch will be provided at Lassiter Middle School after the cleanup around noon.

“This is another way that we as Council Members can partner to help make our districts a nicer place to live,” says Yates. “We are fortunate to have so many people who care about their community, and we thank them for volunteering.”

If you would like to learn more to volunteer with the Brightside Cleanup, contact Councilwoman Welch’s office at 574-1113 or Councilman Yates’ office at 574-1125. You can also click HERE to see details of the cleanup via the Valley Station Business Association.

Occupy Louisville begins Tuesday

Peaceful people of all ages and all walks of life will be convening Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12 noon, on the corner of 4th and Jefferson Streets in downtown Louisville to begin an ongoing peaceful demonstration called Occupy Louisville.

The mission of the group, as developed by several participants who first met together on Sunday afternoon is simple:  

"Occupy Louisville will be an ongoing non-violent, civil disobedient demonstration opposing corrupt corporate influence in U.S. politics, the influence of money and corporations on democracy and a lack of legal and political repercussions for the global financial crisis. We will also be demonstrating our solidarity with those participating in Occupy Wall Street in New York, and like events all over our nation."

The group who came together and developed this mission also note their mission is subject to revision by a consensus of occupation participants as the action continues.

All participants who agree with the group's mission are welcome to join them, and any donations of food and/or public support from those who are unable will be much appreciated. The occupation, like other ones occurring throughout the country, is planned to continue indefinitely until concrete legislative changes are made that serve our mission.

"The smart rich know they can only build the gate so high. And, sooner or later history proves that people when they've had enough aren’t going to take it anymore." said filmmaker Michael Moore recently on Current TV's Countdown, who supports Occupy Wall Street.

Other celebrities who have already gave their support for Occupy Wall Street include Russell Simmons, Anti-Flag, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Noam Chomsky, Bill McKibben, Radiohead and U.S. Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders.

Contact: 

curtis morrison

a communications liaison for #occupylouisville participants

curtster3@gmail.com 502.403.9498

Facebook Pages:

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyLouisville

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Louisville-Solidarity-with-Occupy-Wall-Street/156082817815249?sk=wall

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Louisville-KY/286725418004602

Facebook Event: 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144798655617077

Twitter hashtag: 

#occupylouisville

Southwest Regional Redistricting meeting set for next Wednesday

Every ten years, following the Census, legislators are required to redraw their boundaries to ensure residents are evenly distributed through their districts. The Louisville Metro Council is nearing the end of this process. In an effort to continue the committee's effort to garner public input, a series of public input meetings will be held. The Southwest Regional Redistricting meeting will be held on Wednesday October 5th at 7pm at the Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway. Please plan to attend to offer your input on the new district maps.

Workshop to explore Southwest Greenways Trail System plan

Join Metro Parks for a Community Workshop on Saturday, September 24th, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital.

A continental breakfast and registration will available at 8:30 a.m. Learn about the Southwest/South Louisville Greenways trail system and how it will affect you.

This workshop is designed to let you plan for the future of your neighborhood and community. Click the image at right to view the flyer for this event.

The Southwest Center : A community jewel, uncovered

Thank God for people like Dana Slucher.

Dana, a registered nurse, is Executive Director and the driving force behind the Southwest Center, located at 8009 Terry Road in Southwest Louisville.

If you have traveled Terry Road, odds are you have driven past the Southwest Center. What you may not know about it seems to be the best-kept secret in town.

But what do they do?

The Southwest Center is a non-profit organization that exists to provide support, work and independence to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Begun by a group of parents and caregivers in 1982, the Center has grown steadily and has positively affected the lives of its clients and the community at large. Some of the founders are still deeply involved with the Center.

Mark Lynch and I visited the Southwest Center on Monday to speak with Ms. Slucher about helping to promote their service to the community and got more than we had bargained for. The experience is one I wish each of you could enjoy for yourselves, because it speaks to all that is good and right with our part of town and puts on display the type of values for which Louisville should be known.

Dana and her professional, long-serving staff are upbeat, excited, friendly and compassionate. They believe in what they do. They probably accomplish more in one day at the Center than most of us accomplish in a lifetime, and they do it all with smiles.
And hope.

The Southwest Center brings independence to our friends and family with intellectual disabilities by offering the following services:

• On Site Employment: Clients are offered the opportunity to earn an income through contracts with local businesses as well as through the Center-owned "Handi-Craft Ceramics". Other opportunities include employment through the job shop which provides job development skills and job placement with on-going support to insure success. Several clients have obtained gainful employment at a fastener company in Riverport through an arrangement with the Center. Also offered: Bulk mail services, "goodie bags" and cleaning services.
• Handi-Craft Ceramics: This unique and wonderful retail ceramics shop is one of only a handful still operating in Louisville and features over 4000 designs. Handi-Craft Ceramics is located on site and is open to the community. See below for more information on how you can help.
• Transportation: The Southwest Center offers transportation to and from the facility and to medical appointments via a small fleet of specialized, accessible vehicles.
• Residential Services: Gives individuals the chance to live on their own with the assistance and supervision of highly trained staff.
• Adult Day Training: Allows clients to reach new levels of independence through learning daily living activities. The Adult Day Training program staff teaches skills like cooking, cleaning, money management and decision making through use of a mock apartment, complete with a functional kitchen. Individuals in the group are out traveling the community several days a week, accessing resources such as fitness and entertainment.
• Rental Hall: A competitively priced rental hall is ready to fill your needs for parties, receptions or business meetings for up to 200 people. The rental hall also gives the Center's clients the opportunity to learn how to set up for and clean up after events.

Although the majority of the Southwest Center's clients are from Southwest Louisville, individuals from all over town come to gain skills and enjoy the Center's many programs.

Fun fact: That toy or item encased in a plastic bubble you purchased from a vending machine may have been assembled at the Southwest Center.

Heather, a client at the Center, assisted us as "tour guide". She is a phenomenal success story and proves just what the Center can accomplish for someone with special needs. Vibrant and unique, she led the way in a joyful spirit not found in many other individuals you may encounter on a day-to-day basis. She currently lives in one of the Center's residential properties and has become quite independent. Heather was a real treat for us, and she warmed our hearts. Special thanks to you, Heather!

Throughout the Center, the walls are adorned with artwork produced by some of the Center's clients and the halls are full of genuinely happy people. In my line of work, you do not see that very often. I was struck by the generosity and pleasantness of everyone there and was genuinely moved by the experience. Therefore, I am asking each of you, to the extent possible, to help this charitable organization in every way you can.

A BBB-Accredited charity, the Southwest Center should be at the top of any community-conscious person's list when it comes time to donate to a great cause. But there are other ways to help as well.

If you have a business that has staffing needs, you can contact the Center. They will be glad to assist you, and you will be providing more than just a job to someone. You will be assisting someone seeking to improve their life and gain independence.

If you are a vendor looking for a way to give back, check into the Center's on-site ceramic shop (florists welcome) or inquire about the sub-assembly of toys or other items in the plastic bubbles for your vending machines, or inquire about the Center's bulk mailing or cleaning services

If you enjoy ceramics, there are many unique and beautiful pieces at Handi-Craft Ceramics. The entrance to the retail shop is in the rear of the Center and is open the following hours: Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm, Wednesday from 9am to 3pm, and Friday from 10am to 5pm. These are breathtaking items and are very reasonably priced. Please visit the shop and tell us what you think.

Funding for the Center comes through revenue generated from these sources as well as donations, fundraising, grants and Medicaid Waiver programs.

In all, the Southwest Center is a Louisville jewel, one we can all be proud of having and supporting.

You can tell a lot about our society by looking at the way we treat our most vulnerable. After our visit to the Southwest Center, I can say without reservation that Southwest Louisville is unmatched in it's dedication to our basic core principles: Compassion, dedication, charity, love, respect.


Check back with the Valley Report often for updates and special events happening at the Center in the coming months. You will not want to miss the annual car show on October 15th.Info on the car show can be obtained by contacting Linda Kepple at 502-937-0216.

You can find out more about the Southwest Center by calling 502-935-1848 or by visiting the soon-to-be launched website: www.swcky.org

If we had 10 more like Dana, our world would be a much better place to live.

*Photos of our visit are now live on the Valley Report Facebook page. Special thanks to Mark Lynch of Valley Station for accompanying me to the Center and taking photos.

Group plans to "bombard" local eatery with customers

Wednesday, August 24th beginning at 7:00pm, you can take part in a unique and satisfying event that helps your locally-owned businesses and improves your community. 

In a series known as "Random Bombardment Night", a local group will be flooding selected local businesses with customers willing to spend a little money and have a good time. 

This week's choice is Nana's Country Kitchen at Lower Hunters Trace and Cane Run Road. HERE is a map.


The Facebook group "I AM Dixie Highway" has created "Random Bombardment Nights" in order to get people together and help out a south end business. That is a noble cause and one for which we can all be proud.


You may RSVP to this event by clicking HERE.

To learn more about the group or to join, please visit the link above to see the group's Facebook page. You don't have to join to take part in the event, and there are no mandatory fees or dues. You just need a willingness to participate in a good civic action and a desire to have fun.


It is recommended you RSVP through the event page so the staff at Nana's can accommodate what hopefully shall be an enormous crowd.


The group's first event at Valley Dairy Freeze attracted nearly 60 people and included three representatives of Louisville's Metro Council.


Hope to see you there.

Auburndale Neighborhood Association Supports Troops from LMPD

On Tuesday evening, August 23rd, the Auburndale Neighborhood Association will be collecting goods for LMPD officers who are deployed overseas. ANA will arrange transport of all items collected starting at 7PM at Kenwood Elementary School. Suggested items to donate include:

• Laundry Detergent (powder is the one that can be shipped)

•Gallon Size Resealable Plastic Bags

•Air Fresheners (no liquid or aerosols can be shipped)

•Coffee • Sweetened drink mixes

•Toaster pastries (Cherry and Strawberry)

•Oatmeal (Peaches and Cream/Apple Cinnamon)

•Mac n Cheese (instant ones that you only add hot water)

•Chewing gum 

•Chips

•Canned Cheese (again no aerosols) 

•Ramen or Cup of Noodles

•Summer Sausage and/or Slim Jims

•DVD movies and/or Music CD’s

•Sunflower Seeds, Trail Mix (remember the heat, chocolate will melt)

•New Magazines 

•Board/Travel Games

•Toothbrushes and/or Toothpaste (plastic tubes best for shipping) 

•Mouth Sprays/Breath Strips

•Granola Bars and/or Protein Bars

•Ear Swabs

•Pillows

2011 Southwest Community Festival, October 8th

It's already mid-August, and before we know it we will be smack-dab in the middle of fall. So it is surely time to start talking about our annual Southwest Festival.

The 2011 Festival is being held October 8th at Sun Valley Park and promises to be the best one yet. This event grows each year and has become one of the largest, most exciting community festivals in the metro area.Yearly events include the car/bike show, arts and crafts booths, "Kids City", "Toddler Town", senior's tent, a spelling bee, the balloon glow, a golf scramble and the greatest pancake breakfast in town.

This year's 26th annual installment of the Southwest Community Festival, with your help, shall be the biggest and will showcase what Southwest Louisville has to offer. It is a celebration of our unique culture, our common bonds and our diversity.

To help sponsor the event or to reserve a booth click here.

To help spread the word among family and friends, RSVP to the event through facebook by clicking here.

The schedule for the 2011 Southwest Festival and all related information can be found at the organization's website, www.southwestfestival.org

Good times, bad times: Valley High getting $26 mil. makeover

First, the good/great news: JCPS is going ahead with plans for a $26 million "upgrade" at Valley High School. You can read about the details HERE. Still undecided is the question of renovation versus new construction.

Tax dollars spent on projects like these not only benefit the students and the neighborhood, but also benefit local workers and local businesses that cater to them as the project moves along.

In Kentucky, there are prevailing wage laws and rules that allow for Project Labor Agreements (PLA's) which require contractors to use a certain percentage of local workers. That's important, as many of our skilled trades workers are laid off or "on the bench", as they say.

Which leads us to the bad news.

There is a movement underway to undermine any Project Labor Agreements that may come before the the Jefferson County Board of Education. In this case, intimidation is the chosen tactic. You can read all the sorry and sordid details of that mess by clicking HERE.

Here we are in 2011, still trying to convince people that employing local workers on local projects is a good business and economic policy. Unbelievably, there are those that still swear by the practice of using out-of-town workers while our own are drawing unemployment benefits. The main driver for that behavior is greed, and if greed wins, greed will ruin us all.

If you have a moment today, it wouldn't hurt to contact your school board representative and let them know you want the Valley High School project to move forward with a strong PLA that guarantees employment for Louisville workers.

Local activists protest Chase Bank branch in Louisville - Tom Owen tries to avoid crowd

Chase Bank, Baxter & Highland

Yesterday afternoon a group of local union activists gathered on a Louisville sidewalk to protest the greed-driven actions of JPMorgan Chase. The protest, held in front of a Chase Bank location at Baxter and Highland, drew support from passers-by as well as Chase customers.

The protests were part of a nationwide action against the bank yesterday.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Chase is #1 in foreclosures, many processed improperly (some during the federal loan modification process), causing great harm to American homeowners, property values and the nation's economy.

Chase has $18.9 billion worth of home loans in foreclosure on its books as of September 30, 2010. 7.48% of all JPMorgan Chase-owned residential mortgages are in foreclosure, the largest foreclosure rate among the big banks.

JPMorgan Chase reported 2010 net income of $17.4 billion, an increase of 48% compared with $11.7 billion for the prior year. Earnings per share were $3.96, compared with $2.26 for 2009. For 2009, JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO James Dimon received a $1 million salary and equity awards valued at $14 million.

The protesters, demanding that Chase declare a moratorium on home foreclosures, were approached by people on the street that had problems themselves or knew someone who was having problems dealing with Chase on their mortgage.

"My poor mother is going through this exact thing with these bastards!", said one woman who stopped to see what the fuss was about. "Oh my God, they are such liars. They keep saying they lost my mom's modification paperwork like 10 times, and now they're in the process of taking her house away before she can get the modification approved."

Sound familiar?

Tom Owen (D-8): "What, me worry?"

The strangest moment of the hour-long rally came when Metro Councilman Tom Owen (D-8), while walking a bike, attempted to pass through the middle of the protest without taking literature or even acknowledging the presence of the crowd. Protester Kirk Gillenwaters, a local UAW retiree, said of Owen, "Tom Owen has a reputation of being a good listener, but we sure didn't see that here today. I practically had to jam this flyer under his arm. In a district that has had as many foreclosures as Councilman Owen's, I sure would have thought he'd have taken this issue more seriously today considering some of the people affected by this bank's actions are his constituents."

Councilman Owen, with flyer in hand, hastily made his way across the street after trying his best to ignore the issue.

The attempt to send a message to Chase continues on March 18, culminating in a rally at the bank's headquarters in New York.